See a Sample of a Superior Resume

When an employer receives 100 - 200 resumes in response to a job posting, the resume that catches your eye has to stand out from the crowd. This sample resume sets standard employers to need to seek and candidates need to emulate.

What Makes This Sample Resume So Great

This sample resume started out with a list of characteristics, traits, competencies, and skills that exactly matched the requirements I had stated in my job posting. This smart candidate drew a line that connected his skills and my needs. The less work the employer has to do the better. This candidate understands that.

The candidate is applying for an Operations Management job, so note that the initial skills and experience highlights section emphasizes Operations Management. This allows you to quickly understand the qualifications of the candidate for your position.

The job history is clearly laid out and I had no questions about the candidate's career progression. There are no gaps in employment. The only question that the resume surfaced is why the candidate is seeking a full-time position after consulting for a few years.

The business of each company that employed the candidate is described so that the potential employer can see the relationship to their business.

The candidate understands the power of the show, not tell. In each of his positions, he demonstrates the bottom line impact of his work. He didn't just manage a plant. He "streamlined inventories by 50% and increased inventory turnover by 145%." He "improved customer delivery performance from 78% to 96% while reducing lead times by 80%."

The "Professional Achievements" section of the resume stood out, not just because the candidate has achieved success in his career, but because the achievements so closely mirror his stated career goals and my needs as an employer.

My reaction to the "Education / Professional Development" section of the resume was the same. The candidate's educational investments echo his career choices.

Sample Resume Conclusions

Part of the power of this sample resume is that it highlights the smart career choices of the candidate. He served in progressively more challenging positions. He kept track of the measurable impacts of his performance on company goals. He obtained the necessary degrees to progress in his field. And, he attended classes, seminars, and advanced training in the subjects in which he claims expertise.

Additionally, at this point in his career, he seeks opportunities to share his expertise and attains this goal through both writing and speaking. He is looking for employment that appears congruent with the education, professional contributions, and experience that the states on the sample resume.

The sample resume's only weaknesses are that the candidate fails to mention professional association affiliations or philanthropic contributions. He also tells the potential employer nothing personal about himself. The employee-seeking employer doesn't want to know that he has three children, but his work as a March of Dimes team leader or his hobby of golf lends personality to the candidate's application.

This resume rocks for these reasons. As an employer or as a job seeker, these sample resume comments will help you either review or craft a resume that results in a superior candidate. This resume is presented as a superior sample resume with the permission of its owner.